# short

/ˈʃɔɹt/ (US) · /ʃˈɔːt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/short
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. length or height

adjective · CEFR A1

measuring a small distance from one end to the other, or not tall.

For teachers: having little length or relatively small stature.

- The walk to the shops is very short, so we don't need to drive.
- The short stature of the doorway required taller visitors to stoop slightly before entering the historic cottage.

### 2. time

adjective · CEFR A1

lasting for only a small amount of time.

For teachers: having a brief duration.

- We had a short meeting this morning to discuss the new project.
- After a short delay due to technical difficulties, the keynote speaker finally took the stage to a warm reception.

### 3. rude or brief

adjective · CEFR B2

speaking in a way that is too quick and perhaps a bit rude.

For teachers: abrupt or curt in manner or spirit.

- She was a bit short with me on the phone, so I think she's busy.
- His short response to the journalist's inquiry suggested he was unwilling to discuss the merger before the official announcement.

### 4. lacking or insufficient

adjective · CEFR B1

not having enough of something that you need.

For teachers: inadequately supplied; deficient in quantity or amount.

- We are short of milk, so I need to go to the supermarket.
- The hospital was dangerously short of supplies following the unexpected influx of patients during the winter flu season.

### 5. finance

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

a way of investing where you make money if the price of something goes down.

For teachers: relating to a financial position that profits from a decline in the price of an asset.

- The investor took a short position on the company's stock.
- Hedge funds that were short on the housing market realized significant gains during the subsequent financial downturn.

### 6. suddenly or before a goal

adverb · CEFR B2

stopping suddenly or failing to reach a target.

For teachers: abruptly; or failing to reach a specific point or requirement.

- The car stopped short just before hitting the fence.
- The arrow fell short of the target, landing harmlessly in the grass several meters away.

### 7. electrical problem

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a problem with electricity that causes a machine to stop working.

For teachers: an accidental electrical connection of low resistance between two points in a circuit.

- The lights went out because there was a short in the wiring.
- The technician identified a short in the motherboard that had caused the server to reboot repeatedly throughout the night.

### 8. short film

noun · CEFR B1

a movie that is not very long, often shown before a main movie or online.

For teachers: a motion picture that is not long enough to be considered a feature film.

- We watched a funny short before the main movie started.
- The director gained international recognition after her animated short won an award at the prestigious film festival.

### 9. to cheat or underpay

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to give someone less than the correct amount of money or goods.

For teachers: to provide less than the agreed or expected amount; to shortchange.

- I think the cashier shorted me five dollars in change.
- The contractor was accused of shorting the project on high-quality materials to increase his own profit margin.

### 10. less than

preposition · CEFR B2

having less than a certain amount or being near but not at a place.

For teachers: having a deficiency of; or situated at a distance less than.

- The marathon runner collapsed just ten meters short of the finish line.
- The final collection was two thousand dollars short of the fundraising goal despite the community's best efforts.

## Examples

- The meeting was very short and finished early.
- We decided to take a short walk through the park before the sun went down.
- The author's latest collection of short stories explores the delicate nuances of human connection within the constraints of brief, impactful narratives.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.